[TheForge] Speaking of MASTERMYR: Mastermyr II Item Status andMastermyr Replicas Display Locations & Dates (2006 Update 1)

[Demon Buddha]

Dan Tull wrote:
> I've already gotten some replies as to "what is it?" , so
> maybe there is enough new blood to put it out again.
> So, Bill, you and Andy explain how it works.
> I'm in favor of finishing it up, but not with ties to abana06.

	OK, nutshell because I'm in the middle of writing the final draft of 
the business plan.

	in 1936 a farmer in Sweden was plouging a newly drained field.  The 
mold board got tangled up in a chain in the ground.  Turned out to be 
attached to a box of tools that was over 1000 years old, the contents 
being in rather good condition.  Hammers, chisels, axes, anvils, drills, 
files, locks... and so on.

	In 2000, Rob Fertner and I were at the ABANA conference in Flagstaff, 
about to hit up Norm Larson, and I mused that the smiths on theforge 
should get together and do a project, in the same spirit as the 
conference project is carried out (do they still do that?).  Rob agreed 
and after a moment or two of staring at the books before us, he said 
"hey, how about we replicate the Mastermyr find?".  It took a second or 
two (I'm slow to the punch) to sink in, but the light went on and I 
agreed that this was a jolly good idea.  When we got back, we put the 
idea to the group and the response was way more than I ever thought it 
would be.  The rest is history.  The project is about 65% complete, with 
the rest in various stages of completion, including Don Plummer's bell 
that won't dangle right... but that's another story.

	So I've been away in school awhile and today my walnut got to wondering 
whether we should undertake a new project.  That's when it was pointed 
out to me that Mastermyr is still unfininshed and it was further 
suggested that we finish that one first before moving on to another.  I 
wholeheartedly agree.  It's been six years, so perhaps it's time to tie 
up the loose ends and finish it off.

	speaking of which, did we ever decide on a semi-permanent home?

	-Andy

PS: Norm donated many copies of the book for our use in the display. 
Norm's a righteous guy.  Anyone heard from him lately?